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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



RUBAIYAT OF HoPE 



Rubaiyat of Hope 



'By 
A. A. B. Cavaness 




CINCINNATI : JENNINGS AND GRAHAM 
NEW YORK: EATON AND MAINS 



Copyright, 1906 
BY 

JENNINGS AND GRAHAM 



LIBRASY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

APR 13 1906 

. Copyright Entry 
cuss CO''m, No, 

/ui^ 3 y c 

COPY 8. 






Foreword 



FOREWORD 

To Edward Fitzgerald, who found and 
restored the glitter of buried pearls, liter- 
ature owes a unique debt. Not so apparent 
is the obligation of the Human Spirit, cher- 
ishing Life. Omar was an Astronomer who 
forsook the Light of the Stars for the 
Sparkle of Wine to read his chances of To- 
morrow. The Horoscope was hopeless 
Ruin: It was simply the Humor of the Eter- 
nal Saki to pour Human Bubbles from an 
exhaustless Urn! To accept that, was all — 
and the best. 

''Drink! for you know not whence you 
came, nor why; 
Drink! for you know not why you go, nor 
nnhere!^' — 



This is the shimmer of the Cup, the 
Flash of the Tavern — and its Tragedy, But 
Life protests. Life — Beautiful — is the 
dream of Pagan and Christian. The Urn 
whence it flows is Life Infinite — toward 
which the Life poured aspires — and must, 
forever. 

-^THE AUTHOR, 



Introduction 



INTRODUCTION 

Omars rose is red; but it is red with 
wine — and blood. 'T is a hopeless supper 
Omar takes at his tavern. Nothing of his 
quip or laughter subtracts from the utter 
loneliness of his heart. This is what some 
of such as have worn Oma/s red rose have 
not quite caught. They have caught their 
master s jest, but have not caught their mas- 
ter s heartbreak. Omar is as sad as King 
hears fool whose words all drip with tears. 
Life can not cope with hopelessness. No 
destiny, is sad destiny. Fate is a devil. He 
must be slain, or we shall be slain. It is a 
battle to the death. 

My friend, the poet of this poem, has 



seen this, and what is more, has felt this. 
What we feel is deeper than what we think, 

"/ have FELT' 
is the master word of Tennyson s life. We 
shall never forget it, nor him for speaking 
it. This poet in this poem which I think 
to he very noble, has seen that a tavern was 
no place to teach theology or life, has seen 
that Hope is master of Despair, has seen 
that Man is master of Destiny, has seen that 
nothing can unhinge us but ourselves. 

This is a glorious evangel. Into this 
poem a true poet has poured his life. He 
is a soldier wounded for his Country and 
has, hence, the battle anger in his blood. 
He thinks it is worth while to fight even 
if the battle slays. 

Omar, drop your wine-dyed rose nor 
stoop to pick it up. The lily is a better 
flower. And with IT waves a palm, symbol 
of Victory! 

^WILLIAM A. SlUAYLE. 



Prologue 



PROLOGUE 

Under an Empty Glass, beside a Rose 

Sweet Omar hopeless, smiling sought Repose — 

Oblivion! In Cup he read it! Well — 
If the Red Wine sparkled false — now — he knows! 

The Temple and the Tavern both were Lies, 
But in the Last a flash to Omar's eyes 

Revealed the Rose, unfolding Yesternight 
The Watcher lone To-day of Rose that dies; 

The Flower that should bloom above his head. 
The Grape that sought the Tavern whence he fled- 

Joining the Revels, mocking his Carouse 
Were the only Waking of Omar Dead! 



O Laughing Prophet of the Endless Dark, 
We marvel Thou didst not behold the Spark 
Flashing to Thee the Glory of Thyself — 
And through the Mists allured Thy Drifting Bark! I 

The Persian Clouds escaping — art Thou free — 
Thy Rose — of Bloom undying — dost Thou see ? 

Here — and in blaze of Doubted Temple's light 
Hast Thou not Answer: Immortality? 



RUBAIYAT OF HoPE 



I 

Wake! For the Day has routed Giant Night 
And Flaming Swords pursue his dastard Flight; 
And from the crimson Battlements of morn 
Is streaming Glory of Prophetic Light! 

II 

Methought a Voice cried in the Wilderness: 
"Why not go thither, and the Land possess? 

For this Majestic Temple of the Sky 
Awaits the Human Temple's comeliness!" 

Ill 

Then as the Cock crew, they who heard the Cry, 
Loud shouted: *' Courage is the Virtue high! 

Lead us, we pray Thee, to the Open Door, 
And help us build for Immortality!" 



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IV 

Greeting the steps of Souls Unsatisfied, 

The lone Wild Rose to purple bloomed — and died; 

And where it perished, lo! a burst of Flame 
Incarnadined a beauteous Garden-side! 



For He was gone whose haughty mind disdained 
The Laws of Growth, and Nature's art restrained ; 

Released from bondage to the Evil Eye 
Earth laughs with joy of Prisoner unchained. 

VI 

A new world, spacious, opens to the View — 
Awesome to him who stands beneath its blue ; 

The Width inspires, but hides the Possible — 
Yet near ^nd far that Voice : *'To Life be True !" 

VII 

Fill high " the Cup, and in the fire of Spring " 
Your coward Doubts and Dreams of Failure fling ; 
The Wine of Life is yours to drink To-day — 
Drink for the Life that This is following! 



H 



VIII 

"Whether the Cup with sweet or bitter run," 
The order cometh : *' Work Till Day is done ! 

Deem not the Beauty of the Morning's Rise 
Has not an Answer in the Setting Sun !" 

IX 

Now whence, or whither, flies the Bird of Time, 
Who gave him wings has taught then powerful rhyme 

To blend with strains Eternal; and the Soul 
That hears the Chords shall know itself sublime. 

X 

What if the Rose of Yesterday be dead — 
A thousand blow To-day as fair a red; 

We know the Morrow cometh all Divine — 
And vanished Roses are not Spirits Fled! 

XI 

And if the Face of Jamshyd pale and fly — 
For even Heroes have their time to die — 

Let not the Bluster of the Infidel 
At Hatim's Supper prove the Soul a Lie! 



15 



XII 

Here on this Strip, stretching from sand to sand — 
The Rose-crowned earnest of a fairer land — 
Let Darkness and its fetters be forgot — 
So Sealed, forever shall the Temple stand. 

XIII 

Open the Book that led our Pilgrimage — 
Wherein the Promise lies of Battle's wage: 

*'The Wilderness shall blossom as the Rose!" — 
When Hope and Love shall write the Desert's page I 

XIV 

Why take the Cash and let the Credit go? 
Cash is the Present — but an hour or two — 

And leaves the Soul a beggar — dire of need — 
For harvest in the Land that Credits sow. 

XV 

Here is a Mound wherein the Hunters sleep 
Who dreamed of Hunting Grounds in forests deep; 

Almost 'twere sacrilege to deem that power 
Inspiring Hope, did not the Promise keep. 



i6 



XVI 

'Tis holy thought that never blows so red 
The Rose, as where some humble Hero bled; 

Martyr for that which never can be slain — 
Does then, Truth live, and leave her Warrior dead? 

XVII 

Ah, every Hyacinth the Garden wears 
Is lovelier for tender, human cares; 

'Tis the ordainment since the Flaming Sword 
Drave Adam out to moisten Earth with Tears. 

XVIII 

Type of the Power is this Beauteous Green — 
So all-encircling, and on which we lean — 
Ah, lean upon it boldly, for we know 
Omnipotence is here, with Hand unseen! 

XIX 

Then, O "Beloved, fill the Cup that clears" 
Tomorrow as To-day of Clouds and Fears; 

Thy heart is Chalice, Life the Ruby Wine — 
And Brew most precious of Eternal Spheres ! 



17 



XX 

Ah, how we loved them, and their hearts caressed 
Who drank this Vintage, and have gone to rest ! 

And leaving us the Faith to drink as they, 
We too shall win the Guerdons of the Blest I 

XXI 

Sorrow has given us their standing place 

But Hope has garlanded with Summer's grace; 

'Twas Love that gave the Life that soon shall 

pass 
Through darkened Gate-ways Love has made 

through Space. 

XXII 

If the old Greek would not to Dust descend 
Why shouldst Thou, Omar, seek in Dust to end ? 

E'en Crito read within that deathless eye 
He dare not seek in Dust his absent Friend. 

XXIII 

The Morn is rising, for its Day prepare — 
To-day^ indeed, must for the Morrow care; 

From Sky to Temple , all the Watchmen cry : 
"Wisdom teaches: ^Reward is Here — and There!'" 

i8 



XXIV 

What if the Saints and Sages silent are? 

Their words are glowing like a quenchless Star; 

Their shadows lead us, and their thoughts in- 
spire — 
Surely themselves cannot be distant far! 

XXV 

Myself when young, oft heard their high Discourse 
Of Eden's Sorrow, and the Primal Curse; 

Of Sinai's Law, Judea^s Tragedy, 
And Purpose running through the Universe. 

XXVI 
Did I the Seed of Wisdom with them sow, 
And has my hand wrought well to make it grow? 

Pardon, O Love, the Answer pitiful? 
"I came like Water, and like wind I go!" 

XXVII 

Let it be so : Life came to me unknowing — 
Wherefore rail I against its Tidal flowing? 

With ship on Waste— utter — and desolate — 
O joy! the Captain knows the port where going? 



19 



XXVIII 

He, without asking, bore me from the Whence — 
But straight unrolls the map of Journey hence; 

He woos my Soul — I drown it in the Wine — 
Love only may condone the insolence ! 

XXIX 

Ah, verily 'tis true the Knot of Fate 

Has mystic tying — but by Love, not Hate; 

And Priest and Poet, and Philosopher 
Alike with Peasant loosing must await. 

XXX 

Yet in the Heart are found a Door and Key- 
Turn, and open! There stands Humanity! 

That is the bending Heaven's vast reply-— 
And flowering, shall bloom into the Mystery! 

XXXI 

There in the links of never-ending chain 
Heart throbbings infinite repeat thy pain; 

Ah, whence the courage that the march in- 
spires? — - 
Life forward fares y nor deems the Journey vain! 



20 



XXXII 

Though the great Builder is behind the Veil, 

This gift of Earth is substance visible; 
Proving a Hand that proves the Human Dream: 
That never Law, nor Love, nor Life shall fail. 

XXXIII 

If waiting in the Temple Thou art blind, 
Think not within the Tavern's Dusk to find 

A sparkle in the fever of the Cup 
That proves the Architect to Thee unkind. 

XXXIV 

Ah, falser than the Temple is the urn 
That lisps the Lie: "Dust is the only Bourne!" 
Shall reeking Urn exhort Thee "Drink and 
die?" 
Fling back the mocking lesson, and unlearn ! 

XXXV 

If it were true the Vessel once did live. 
The Life inhabiting was fugitive — 

A cast-out Demon, hid in Potter's clay, 
Existence hating, yet compelled to live. 



21 



XXXVI 

And only drunken fancy heard the Cry 
Of Pitcher thumped by Potter carelessly; 

**Twas Devil of the Grape that bade resent 
The gift of Life, and fancied destiny. 

XXXVII 

Sweet Nature gives the Tulip thought to sue 
The Firmament for Vintage of the dew; 

Take Thou example of the Sky and Flower — 
To Thee and them alike the Law is true. 

XXXVIII 

Ay true and truel and Fountains springing free 
Are gracious drops of Human Sympathy — 
Crystals of Heaven, Sorrow's Anodyne, 
And stir v/ithin us of Divinity. 

XXXIX 

Think not the Winds can bear the Morrow's weight 
And leave its Page a Blank, and desolate: 

Dream not its tangle has an end in Wine — 
To-day and Thou^ twin blossoms are of Fate! 



22 



XL 

And never Wine's deceit, nor false caress 
Shall leave to Thee dread Lethe^s Nothingness; 

But through shadows of Delirium 
Hope of To-day^ To-morrow shall be less! 

XLI 

Yesterday this Day's Beauty did prepare — 
Not less To-morrow does To-day declare; 

And yet Thou sayest : Now^ is Heaven's Wrong- 
Traitor only, and prophet of Despair! 

XLII 

'Twere well the Angel find Thee at the brink 
Ere to the caverns of Remorse Thou sink; 

"And offering his Cup, invite thy Sou!" — 
O haste — lose not a moment — seize and drink! 

XLIII 

None but the Coward flings aside the Dust 
That wraps his Jewel — and is the Jewel's trust; 

'Tis valor to abide the Dust's decay, 
And with Law-armed Soul meet Judgment just. 



XLIV 

And though it be only a One-day Tent 
Sultan nor Slave the shortness may resent; 

'Twas Journey planned across an Island's space 
Within a River's touch of Continent. 

XLV 

Ah, dark the Waters, yet there is no gale. 
But cold the torrent that the Soul must sail. 

With Christ, Plato, and Socrates — shalt Thou 
Pay passage tribute to the Boatman pale! 

XLVI 

Who shaped Beginning, also fashioned End, 
And gracious Nature doth His presence lend; — 

Statutes inviolate of Land and Sea, 
Whereon, as well both Life and Spheres depend. 

XLVII 

Parchment of Heaven addrest to conscious Dust — 
Even the lines of Anger heighten trust; 

But lines of Love, and Love's divine excess 
So gleam, that Anger seems from Parchment thrust. 



24 



XLVIII 

And this is Legend: "Foot that steps aright 
Shall falter through the gloom that leads to Light ; 

Yet momently the Soul is piloted 
Unto the loveliness that crowns the height." 

XLIX 

And if the Riddle still elude thy guess 
Let Doubt not more than murky cloud oppress; 
Mountains to shadows, shadows into Light 
Dissolve before the steps that Love confess. 



Yet Last, if crumbling of the vaulted Sky 
Disprove the Power of its Deity — 

Implore O Soul, if other gods there be, 
The draught of sleep that Waking doth defy! 

LI 

Would Might that spread the Heavens, Star create, 
And Eye in Creature, Star to penetrate, 

Put out the finer Light while baser shines? 
O, that were Cause to plead at Heaven's gate I 



25 



LII 

Waste not your Hour, nor seek in Wine surcease 
From foolish fancies that the Spirits please 

Whose Pride — more foolish still — has punish- 
ment 
Till Love — if they entreat it — shall release. 

LIII 

The Master gave the Vine to Human care 
For boon beneficent, and not a snare; 

With Love, also the fields of golden grain. 
Whence — Serpent guided — Man may steal Despair. 

LIV 

And if a Soul — than whitest Rose more sweet — 
Passes to gloom, and Purpose doth defeat, 

Is it Omar, or Demon of the Wine 
Accusing Law that offered Life complete? 

LV 

Not Devil in the Grape, but Minister 

Of Good seek Thou — to health the currents stir; 

To make Good Bad reveals the Spirit's mood — 
And is indictment of the Traveler. 



26 



LVI 

O Balm of Life, the Light of Story old, 
Art phosphor Jantern only of the mold? 

Red Wine for Thee, has played the Infidel, 
And for a Song thy Reputation soldi 

LVII 

Since Earth began, of Myriads passing swift, 
You say that none return, nor curtains lift I ' 

O vain and impotent apology 
Through fumes of Wine to send the Soul adrift! 

LVI 1 1 

Show us, O Martyr, that within thy breast 
Which in the curling flame revealed Thee blest I 

Was Heaven blotted from the Universe 
When furnace tortures gave Thee Heaven's rest? 

LIX 

Sending his Soul through the Invisible 

The Prophet learned the master Word to spell; 

And thence his Soul returned with this to men 
"Virtue is Heaven, and want of it is Hell I" 



27 



LX 

Heaven attained, the Heart's fulfilled Desire; 
Hell, not the shadow, but the Soul on fire; 

Earth's fairest. Dream of First, may not inspire; 
Earth's darkest, from the Last shall shamed retire! 

LXI 

Is He the Master of a Comic Show 

And gleeful bids the Puppets come and go, 

Then deftly turning lantern leaves the Night 
For Creatures that He formed to stumble through? 

LXII 

Where, in the tracks of Deity is word 

That makes Caprice, of Law and Worlds, the Lord? 

Are these the Tableaux of the Infinite?— 
Hope flowers through Space! Then — Laughter sweeps 
the ^oardi 

LXIII 

Could it be true the Soul were Puppet born, 
And helpless thrust by whim to deeps forlorn, 

'Twere shrink of Universe, and Master too — 
Worthy not worship, but the Puppet's scorn! 

28 



LXIV 



Not more than Bird asks Thou of Ayes and Noes 
From Love conferring Flight, and Flight's repose; 

Leaning on ether, warbling song the while — 
Sparrow may fall—but ah. Compassion flows! 



LXV 



Read after Moving Finger what is writ — 
Within thyself Thou shalt discover it; 

Of Thee, for Thee, the Spirit's simple Law- 
And on Thyself Thou shalt in Judgment sit I 

LXVI 

And quaff the Life that in the Dust awoke — 
A conscious Will, unfettered by a yoke; 

With paths to choose, all their endings writ- 
Poems of God— whereof the Soul is Book. 

LXVII 

And as it journeys in the Open Way 
The forces born within to meet To-day 

Shall hold it true for payment of its Debt — 
And claim the Bond of Heaven made to Clay. 



29 



LXVIII 

Knowledge of Good and Evil — that is man ! 
Mailed in the Armor sovereign: / can! 

Yet reads within — ^^Thou skaltf and Thou shalt 
notr— 
Estate of Angels, blest, and under ban! 

LXIX 

Vieing with gods in Freedom's Dignity — 
If slighting Law of Beauty for Decree 

Perverse — sinking to grovel of the Snake — 
O Soul — take Shame! — for shaming Liberty! 

LXX 

If tangled in thy Dust and Soul, the Vine 
Betray to grief, and penalty condign — 

With eye distort, and robbed of Honor's ken, 
Still, Angel in Thee, will not Soul resign. 

LXXI 

For this we know: Even the Tavern's dark, 
Though barriered against the eternal spark. 

Denies it not — and flashed from broken Cup 
Becomes to lifted Soul — a shining mark. 



30 



LXXII 

Taunt not the Bowl inverted of the Sky — 
Dumb to thy hand, deaf to thy wailing cry; 

This fragile Rose is not more impotent — 
Yet both are largess of Divinity 

LXXIII 

To help Thee live! Inspiring Life with joy! 
The Rose exhaling breath for Love's employ; 

The Sky, lode-starred with Dream sublimity — 
Magnet of Heaven, and the Soul's Envoy! 

LXXIV 

Lo! all the harmony that Earth contains 
Is but an echo of Divine refrains; 

And all the verdurous Beauty hedging us 
A Mirage only of Celestial plains! 

LXXV 
Here is the Dream from which there must be waking 
And here the Thirst for which there must be slak- 
ing; 
And Souls on Mountain tops have touched the 
glory- 
Moses — Paul — Earth and Self an hour forsaking! 



31 



LXXVI 

And Thou, Omar, Wine-burning, Wonderful, 
With luster that defied its flame to dull — 

Flinging to Dust thy Soul with cry to God — 
Thou swearest struggle toward His Invisible! 

LXXVII 

For Poem, Picture, Statue, Music, Song, 
To dreamless Animal do not belong; 

Star-dust of Soul — divinely luminous— 
'Tis radiance of Right — consuming Wrong I 

LXXVIII 

And through this Beauty only Spirit slips 
Passing the Eagle's wings, and ether ships 
To bring to Earth the golden argosies 
Of fine adventure past the Sun's eclipse. 

LXXIX 

"Plato, Thou reasonest well!" So all the wise 
Have built in Dream the walls of Paradise; 

Through endless Springs of recreated Rose, 
To live! To Love! are the eternal cries. 



32 



LXXX 

Caught from the Orbs that Morning glorified 
A star-born Melody in Wind and Tide 

Chimes with the wakened leaves that garnish 
Spring: 
Somewhere^ from Home^ Soul crosses Last Divide, 

LXXXI 

O Thou, Maker, and Master of the Spheres, 
The Soul, through illimitable tears. 

Feels Thee in Self, and flung through Dust, to 
Thee 
Rises through illimitable fears! 

LXXXII 

And Thou, O illimitable Hope, 
The Star Eternal on the upward slope 
Asserting Love, only Omnipotent, 
Didst cast with Eden Spirit's horoscope! 

LXXXIII 

And so the Soul, upon its long, long Road 
Has never wearied seeking safe Abode; 

And Dream abhors that Love created Love 
To bury it beneath Oblivion's load. 



ZZ 



LXXXIV 

And You are You To-day; only more fair 
To-morrow You are You, nor rotting there; 

Secret of Dust — the Lips that now You press 
Shall have the Answer of To-morrow's prayer! 

LXXXV 

If gin and pitfall preface every gate — 
What is the issue? — Soul alone is Fate! 

Love-armed against the darkness — unafraid — 
High-thronsd Soul is Victor soon or late! 

LXXXVI 

So, seeking Beauty Thou shalt stop to rest — 
Maybe in Garden Thou shalt find thy quest; 

And Dust that wrapped Thee, turn again to 
Rose — 
Then Love, even Thy very Dust hath blessed ! 

LXXXVII 

Nor shall the Moon that looks for Thee again. 
Though seeing not in Garden, look in vain; 

Through its white rays a whiter shaft of Light, 
Celestial-winged, sweeps past the cloud and rain. 



34 



LXXXVIII 

And Spring will come, and turn her Empty Glass, 
And Roses die upon thy Mound of Grass; 

But Love, through Rose leaves' Dust beholds 
the Sky, 
And knows that Love to Dust shall never pass. 



55* 



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